Arthritis impacts all our lives

Fibromyalgia

What is fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a common condition, causing widespread pain often alongside other symptoms. It’s thought that as many as 1 person in every 25 may suffer from it. Read more

What are the symptoms of fibromyalgia?

Symptoms of fibromyalgia can include widespread pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance, headaches, forgetfulness and difficulty in concentrating. Read more

How is fibromyalgia diagnosed?

Fibromyalgia is often difficult to diagnose as the symptoms vary considerably and could have other causes. Your doctor may suggest you have blood tests to rule out other conditions. Read more

What causes fibromyalgia?

The exact causes of fibromyalgia aren’t known, but anxiety, physical and/or mental trauma, and sleep disturbance are thought to play a part. It isn't caused by inflammation and it's thought it may be related to chemical changes in the body's pain pathways. Read more

What conditions may be related to fibromyalgia?

Some people who have fibromyalgia also report being affected by other conditions, including fatigue, headaches, irritable bowel syndrome and restless legs syndrome. Read more

What treatments are there for fibromyalgia?

There's no cure as yet for fibromyalgia, but there are ways of managing your symptoms and a team of healthcare professionals will be able to support you in this. Read more

Self-help and daily living for fibromyalgia

Pacing your daily activities, taking regular exercise and tackling any stress or unhappiness are just some of the ways you can help ease the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Read more

Research and new developments for fibromyalgia

Arthritis Research UK is supporting the world’s first national centre for research into understanding the mechanisms of pain in musculoskeletal disorders. Read more

For more information, go to www.arthritisresearchuk.org.Arthritis Research UK fund research into the cause, treatment and cure of arthritis. You can support Arthritis Research UK by volunteering, donating or visiting our shops.